👁️ Visibility MOT Failures
Visibility failures cover windscreen damage, wiper blade condition, washer jet operation, and mirror condition. A chip or crack in the driver's line of sight fails the MOT.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
✅ Best 20 — Lowest Visibility Failure Rate
These models have the lowest visibility failure rate in MOT testing. Great choices if you want to avoid visibility problems.
| # | Make | Model | Failure Rate | Total Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen | Caravelle 78ps | 0% | 10,718 |
| 2 | BMW | 320i Se Auto | 0% | 8,629 |
| 3 | Bentley | Bentayga | 0% | 14,118 |
| 4 | Citroen | C1 Vtr+ | 0% | 6,541 |
| 5 | Mercedes | S 600 | 0% | 5,244 |
| 6 | Bentley | Continental Gt | 0% | 29,819 |
| 7 | Lamborghini | Huracan | 0% | 6,162 |
| 8 | Fiat | Ducato 40 Maxi 160 M-jet | 0% | 6,135 |
| 9 | Audi | TTS | 0% | 13,000 |
| 10 | BMW | 118d M | 0% | 11,890 |
| 11 | Citroen | C3 Vtr+ | 0% | 6,148 |
| 12 | BMW | X3 (f25) | 0% | 20,874 |
| 13 | BMW | 318i Se Auto | 0% | 11,716 |
| 14 | Ferrari | 488 | 0% | 8,529 |
| 15 | Fiat | Brava | 0% | 110,514 |
| 16 | Bentley | Continental Gtc | 0% | 9,963 |
| 17 | BMW | 323 | 0% | 172,169 |
| 18 | Mercedes-Benz | Slk250 Amg Sport Cdi Blue-cy A | 0% | 5,251 |
| 19 | Mercedes | Slk 55 | 0.1% | 7,101 |
| 20 | Mercedes | E 270 | 0.1% | 86,915 |
❌ Worst 20 — Highest Visibility Failure Rate
These models have the highest visibility failure rate. Consider extra inspection before buying.
| # | Make | Model | Failure Rate | Total Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vauxhall | Combo 2300 Sportive Td S/s | 14.4% | 6,063 |
| 2 | Citroen | Dispatch 1000 En-prise Bhdi Ss | 12.2% | 6,898 |
| 3 | Vauxhall | Corsa Sri Vx-line Nav Black | 11.4% | 6,196 |
| 4 | Vauxhall | Vivaro 2900 Sportive S/s | 11.4% | 15,821 |
| 5 | Vauxhall | Vivaro 2900 Edition S/s | 11.2% | 5,953 |
| 6 | Vauxhall | Corsa Energy S/s | 11.1% | 5,000 |
| 7 | Vauxhall | Vivaro 2900 Dynamic S/s | 11% | 16,477 |
| 8 | Ford | Transit Custom 300leader Eblue | 10.8% | 26,369 |
| 9 | Vauxhall | Vivaro 2700 Sportive S/s | 10.4% | 5,209 |
| 10 | Vauxhall | Corsa Griffin S/s | 10% | 7,025 |
| 11 | Isuzu Trucks | Grafter N35.120 | 9.9% | 5,053 |
| 12 | Nissan | E-nv200 | 9.8% | 13,226 |
| 13 | Citroen | Spacetourer | 9.7% | 9,243 |
| 14 | Peugeot | Rifter | 9.7% | 15,984 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | Lt | 9.4% | 66,295 |
| 16 | Ldv | V80 | 9.4% | 7,870 |
| 17 | Ford | Transit Custom 280leader Eblue | 9.4% | 7,060 |
| 18 | Vauxhall | Vivaro 3100 Sportive S/s | 9.1% | 10,123 |
| 19 | Ford | Transit Custom 300 Trend Eblue | 9% | 9,738 |
| 20 | Mazda | B-series | 9% | 14,371 |
💡 How to Avoid Visibility Failures
- ✓ Replace wiper blades every 12 months — they degrade in sunlight and cold weather.
- ✓ Repair windscreen chips before they spread into cracks. Many insurance policies cover chip repair for free.
- ✓ Top up washer fluid and ensure all jets spray correctly onto the windscreen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size windscreen chip fails the MOT?
In the driver's direct view (a 290mm wide zone centred on the steering wheel), any damage over 10mm fails. In the rest of the swept area, damage over 40mm fails. Cracks that impair the driver's view also fail.
Do I need both wing mirrors to pass the MOT?
Cars first registered after August 1978 need at least two mirrors. If your car was originally fitted with two door mirrors and one is damaged, it will fail the MOT.
How much do windscreen wipers cost?
Replacement wiper blades cost £8-£25 for a pair from motor factors. Fitting takes minutes. This is one of the cheapest MOT fixes available.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.